Kattazhagu Maamaa
From Thiripura Sundari · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thiripura Sundari1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kattazhagu maamaa | Handsome beloved uncle, |
| Onna thaanae katti kollalaamaa | Can I embrace only you? |
| Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa | Can the virgin honey be left untouched? |
| Nalla naeram nerungudhu maamaa | The auspicious time is approaching, uncle. |
| Aehae hae hae hae… ho ho ho… | Aehae hae hae hae… ho ho ho… |
| Female | |
| Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa | Shall I lay out a fresh green banana leaf? |
| Pakkam vandhu parimaaravaa | Shall I come near and serve you? |
| Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa | Shall I lay out a fresh green banana leaf? |
| Female | |
| Kattil meedhu malar thoovavaa | Shall I scatter flowers upon the bed? |
| Kannaal mella kadhai paesavaa | Shall I softly speak stories through my eyes? |
| Sittaadai katti singaara kutti | Wearing a fine skirt, a beautiful young girl, |
| Machaanin pon maarbilae mayangidalaamaa | Can I swoon upon my groom's golden chest? |
| Female | |
| Kattazhagu maamaa | Handsome beloved uncle, |
| Onna thaanae katti kollalaamaa | Can I embrace only you? |
| Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa | Can the virgin honey be left untouched? |
| Nalla naeram nerungudhu maamaa | The auspicious time is approaching, uncle. |
| Female | |
| Engal veedu arasaangamaa | Is our house a royal kingdom? |
| Engum dheeba alangaaramaa | Is there light decoration everywhere? |
| Engal veedu arasaangamaa | Is our house a royal kingdom? |
| Ingae naanum magaraaniyaa | Am I a queen here? |
| Ennai aala manavaalanaa | Are you the bridegroom who comes to rule me? |
| Oorellaam nindru paaraatta indru | With the whole town gathering to praise today, |
| Thaeraeri pogindra naal vandhadhu maamaa | The day to ride in the wedding chariot has arrived, uncle. |
| Female | |
| Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro… | Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro… |
| Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro… | Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro… |
| Thottaal podhum medhuvaagavae | Just a gentle touch is enough, |
| Thottil aadum azhagaagavae | A cradle will swing beautifully, |
| Thottaal podhum medhuvaagavae | Just a gentle touch is enough, |
| Machaan raasi suga raasi thaan | My groom's fortune is indeed blissful, |
| Mangai naanum magaraasi thaan | And I, a young woman, am fortunate too, |
| Ezhettu pillai mael ondrum illai | Having seven or eight children is nothing wrong, |
| Aaraaro aaraariro paadanum maamaa | We ought to sing a lullaby for them, uncle. |
| Male | |
| Kattazhagu maamaa | Handsome beloved uncle, |
| Onna thaanae katti kollalaamaa | Can I embrace only you? |
| Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa | Can the virgin honey be left untouched? |
| Nalla naeram nerungudhu maamaa | The auspicious time is approaching, uncle. |
கட்டழகு மாமா
ஒன்னைத்தானே கட்டிக் கொள்ளலாமா
கன்னித் தேனை விட்டு வைக்கலாமா
நல்ல நேரம் நெருங்குது மாமா......
ஏ ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹே ......
ஓ...ஹோ..ஹோ....ஹோ............
Handsome beloved uncle,
Can I embrace only you?
Can the virgin honey be left untouched?
The auspicious time is approaching, uncle.
Aehae hae hae hae… ho ho ho…
பச்சை வாழை இலை போடவா
பக்கம் வந்து பரிமாறவா
பச்சை வாழை இலை போடவா
Shall I lay out a fresh green banana leaf?
Shall I come near and serve you?
Shall I lay out a fresh green banana leaf?
கட்டில் மீது மலர் தூவவா
கண்ணால் மெல்ல கதை பேசவா
சிற்றாடை கட்டி ஏய் சிங்கார குட்டி
மச்சானின் பொன்மார்பிலே மயங்கிடலாமா
Shall I scatter flowers upon the bed?
Shall I softly speak stories through my eyes?
Wearing a fine skirt, a beautiful young girl,
Can I swoon upon my groom's golden chest?
கட்டழகு மாமா
ஒன்னைத்தானே கட்டிக் கொள்ளலாமா
கன்னித் தேனை விட்டு வைக்கலாமா
நல்ல நேரம் நெருங்குது மாமா......
Handsome beloved uncle,
Can I embrace only you?
Can the virgin honey be left untouched?
The auspicious time is approaching, uncle.
எங்கள் வீடு அரசாங்கமா
எங்கும் தீப அலங்காரமா
எங்கள் வீடு அரசாங்கமா
இங்கே நானும் மகராணியா
என்னை ஆள மணவாளனா
ஊரெல்லாம் நின்று பாராட்ட என்று
தேரேறி போகின்ற நாள் வந்தது மாமா
Is our house a royal kingdom?
Is there light decoration everywhere?
Is our house a royal kingdom?
Am I a queen here?
Are you the bridegroom who comes to rule me?
With the whole town gathering to praise today,
The day to ride in the wedding chariot has arrived, uncle.
ஆராரிராரோ........ஆராரிராரோ......
ஆராரிராரோ.......ஆராரிராரோ
தொட்டால் போதும் மெதுவாகவே
தொட்டில் ஆடும் அழகாகவே
தொட்டால் போதும் மெதுவாகவே
மச்சான் ராசி சுகராசிதான்
மங்கை நானும் மகராசிதான்
ஏழெட்டு பிள்ளை மேலோன்றுமில்லை
ஆராரோ ஆராரிரோ பாடணும் மாமா......
Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro…
Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro…
Just a gentle touch is enough,
A cradle will swing beautifully,
Just a gentle touch is enough,
My groom's fortune is indeed blissful,
And I, a young woman, am fortunate too,
Having seven or eight children is nothing wrong,
We ought to sing a lullaby for them, uncle.
கட்டழகு மாமா
ஒன்னைத்தானே கட்டிக் கொள்ளலாமா
கன்னித் தேனை விட்டு வைக்கலாமா
நல்ல நேரம் நெருங்குது மாமா......
Handsome beloved uncle,
Can I embrace only you?
Can the virgin honey be left untouched?
The auspicious time is approaching, uncle.
Kattazhagu maamaa
Handsome beloved uncle,
Onna thaanae katti kollalaamaa
Can I embrace only you?
Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa
Can the virgin honey be left untouched?
Nalla naeram nerungudhu maamaa
The auspicious time is approaching, uncle.
Aehae hae hae hae… ho ho ho…
Aehae hae hae hae… ho ho ho…
Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa
Shall I lay out a fresh green banana leaf?
Pakkam vandhu parimaaravaa
Shall I come near and serve you?
Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa
Shall I lay out a fresh green banana leaf?
Kattil meedhu malar thoovavaa
Shall I scatter flowers upon the bed?
Kannaal mella kadhai paesavaa
Shall I softly speak stories through my eyes?
Sittaadai katti singaara kutti
Wearing a fine skirt, a beautiful young girl,
Machaanin pon maarbilae mayangidalaamaa
Can I swoon upon my groom's golden chest?
Kattazhagu maamaa
Handsome beloved uncle,
Onna thaanae katti kollalaamaa
Can I embrace only you?
Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa
Can the virgin honey be left untouched?
Nalla naeram nerungudhu maamaa
The auspicious time is approaching, uncle.
Engal veedu arasaangamaa
Is our house a royal kingdom?
Engum dheeba alangaaramaa
Is there light decoration everywhere?
Engal veedu arasaangamaa
Is our house a royal kingdom?
Ingae naanum magaraaniyaa
Am I a queen here?
Ennai aala manavaalanaa
Are you the bridegroom who comes to rule me?
Oorellaam nindru paaraatta indru
With the whole town gathering to praise today,
Thaeraeri pogindra naal vandhadhu maamaa
The day to ride in the wedding chariot has arrived, uncle.
Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro…
Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro…
Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro…
Aaraari raaro… aaraari raaro…
Thottaal podhum medhuvaagavae
Just a gentle touch is enough,
Thottil aadum azhagaagavae
A cradle will swing beautifully,
Thottaal podhum medhuvaagavae
Just a gentle touch is enough,
Machaan raasi suga raasi thaan
My groom's fortune is indeed blissful,
Mangai naanum magaraasi thaan
And I, a young woman, am fortunate too,
Ezhettu pillai mael ondrum illai
Having seven or eight children is nothing wrong,
Aaraaro aaraariro paadanum maamaa
We ought to sing a lullaby for them, uncle.
Kattazhagu maamaa
Handsome beloved uncle,
Onna thaanae katti kollalaamaa
Can I embrace only you?
Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa
Can the virgin honey be left untouched?
Nalla naeram nerungudhu maamaa
The auspicious time is approaching, uncle.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song depicts a young bride lovingly expressing her affection and romantic anticipation towards her groom ('maamaa'). She poetically compares her devotion to traditional hospitality, such as serving food on a fresh green banana leaf and decorating their home like a grand kingdom. She dreams of a happy married life filled with togetherness, prosperity, and raising a large family together.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa”
The term 'Kanni thaen' (virgin honey) is used as a metaphor for youthful beauty, charm, and innocence.
Emona / Initial Rhyme (Moonaai)
“Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa / Pakkam vandhu parimaaravaa”
Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound at the start of adjacent words ('Pachai', 'Pakkam', 'Parimaaravaa').
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Thottaal podhum medhuvaagavae / Thottil aadum azhagaagavae”
The second consonant sound 't-t' matches across lines ('Thottaal' and 'Thottil').
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were authored by Kannadasan for the 1978 movie Thiripura Sundari, composed by Ilaiyaraaja. It incorporates traditional Tamil cultural motifs like serving meals on banana leaves and singing classic lullaby refrains ('Aaraaro Aaraariro').
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